Pacific Asian Studies

The Pacific Asian Studies minor consists of 21-24 units of coursework on three distinct Pacific Asian civilizations: (1) Greater China, (2) Japan and Korea, and (3) Southeast Asia and comparative studies.

Program Scope

Pacific Asia refers to the regions of Asia bordering the Pacific Ocean, including East and Southeast Asia. Historically, East Asia has been under strong influences of Confucianism and Mahayana Buddhism, and Southeast Asia has been under strong influences of Islam and Theravada Buddhism. Diversity seems to be more characteristic than commonality in describing the cultures and societies of East and Southeast Asia. But East and Southeast Asia can be regarded as a meaningful unit of global studies when we consider the two regions’ commercial, cultural, and diplomatic interactions, as well as their common experiences with Western and Japanese imperialism. In the twenty-first century, an economic community that connects East and Southeast Asia has been taking shape with marked Chinese initiatives, making these two regions more closely integrated than ever. The Pacific Asian Studies Minor is designed to give students an introduction into the exuberantly rich and diverse cultures of East and Southeast Asia, their inter-regional relations, and their relations with the rest of the world. In what some are now calling the Asian century, the rising tide of immigration of people from Pacific Asia into the United States, the rapidly increasing trade and financial transfers with nations of the Pacific Rim, and the growing attention to Asian arts, literature, philosophy, medicine, environment, and human rights signal the need to study Pacific Asia in earnest. At a time when this part of the world has become increasingly important to Americans, the minor serves the need to gain better understanding of the complex Asian scene by offering an inviting opportunity for students to develop career and life enhancing academic experiences at the university.

The Pacific Asian Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary program designed for students seeking a more intensive and extensive knowledge and understanding of East and Southeast Asia than their major discipline would offer. The Pacific Asian Studies Minor will be useful to students interested in pursuing further study at the graduate level as well as those planning careers in education, foreign services, international organizations, overseas corporations, and banking. Participants in the Study Abroad program at SF State are welcomed to join Pacific Asian Studies and bring their Asian experiences to SF State classrooms.

Program Contacts

Pacific Asian Studies Coordinator:
See Won Byun, sbyun@sfsu.edu

Program Advising

Students considering the minor are advised to consult with a Pacific Asian Studies faculty member in order to create an individualized plan that will take into account the student’s specific interests as well as to develop a strategy for taking courses to ensure timely completion of the minor. Students planning to take courses other than those listed in the curriculum are required to get prior approval of the program director.

Declare a Minor in Pacific Asian Studies

To declare a major or minor, complete a Declaration of Major/Minor form, then make an appointment to see the program advisor. Bring a copy of your most recent university transcript to the meeting.

What is the Pacific Asian Studies Minor?

Pacific Asia refers to the parts of Asia bordering the Pacific Ocean, including East and Southeast Asia. The Pacific Asian Studies Minor is a multidisciplinary program designed to introduce undergraduate students to the exuberantly rich and diverse cultures of East and Southeast Asia, their inter-regional relations, and their relations with the rest of the world.

Why Study Pacific Asia?

Historically, East Asia has been under strong influences of Confucianism and Mahayana Buddhism, and Southeast Asia has been under strong influences of Islam and Theravada Buddhism. Diversity seems to be more characteristic than commonality in describing the cultures and societies of East and Southeast Asia. In the twenty-first century, an economic community that connects E and SE Asia has been taking shape under the leadership of China, making these two regions more closely integrated than ever. In what some are now calling the Asian century, the rising tide of immigration of people from Pacific Asia into the United States, the rapidly increasing trade and financial transfers with nations of the Pacific Rim, and the increased attention to Asian arts, literature, philosophy, and medicine signal the need to increase the pool of Americans who understand Asian ways of thinking and doing. At a time when this part of the world has become increasingly important to Americans, the minor serves the need to gain better understanding of the complex Asian scene by offering an inviting opportunity for students to develop career and life enhancing academic experiences at the university.

Who Should Declare a Minor in Pacific Asian Studies?

Those seeking a broader understanding of East and Southeast Asia than their major discipline offers should declare a minor in Pacific Asian Studies. The Minor will be useful to students interested in pursuing further study at the graduate level as well as those planning careers in education, foreign services, international organizations, overseas corporations, and banking. Participants in the Study Abroad program at SF State are welcomed to join the Pacific Asian Studies and bring their Asian experiences to the SF State classrooms.

How Many Courses Do I Need to take for the PAS Minor?

The curriculum of Pacific Asian Studies Minor program consists of a core of 12-15 units, plus 9 units of electives, totaling 21-24 units. Not more than 9 units may be transferred from other campuses; no more than 6 units can be taken on a CR/NC basis.

The curriculum of the Pacific Asian Studies minor emphasizes versatility in terms of both the regions and the subjects of study. China is the oldest continuous civilization in the world. Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia also have their distinctive civilizations. The curriculum is designed to give students exposure to all three distinctive civilization systems. The curriculum consists of a core of 12-15 units, plus 9 units of electives, totaling 21-24 units. Not more than nine units may be transferred from other campuses; no more than six units may be taken on a CR/NC basis.

Students considering the minor are advised to consult with Pacific Asian Studies faculty in order to create an individualized plan to take into account specific interests as well as to develop a strategy for taking courses to ensure timely completion of the minor. Students planning to take courses other than those listed in the curriculum are required to get prior approval of the program director.

Pacific Asian Studies, Minor — 21-24 units

Core (12-15 units)

 

Category A: China/Hong Kong/Taiwan Studies

Group I—History, Social Sciences, Health, and Business

Select 3-4 units:

  • GEOG 575 Emerging China (3)
  • HH 381 Holistic Health: Eastern Perspectives (3)
  • HH 383 Chinese Perspectives in Holistic Health (3)
  • HH 410 The Tao of Well-Being in Chinese Tradition (3)
  • HH 420 Chinese Body-Mind Energetics (3)
  • HH 530 Herbal and Nutritional Principles in Chinese Healing (3)
  • HIST 360 Ancient Chinese Civilization (3)
  • HIST 361 Imperial China (3)
  • HIST 362 History of Modern China
  • HIST 569 Ancient Chinese Civilization (3)
  • HIST 590 Civilizing Demons (3)
  • IBUS 592 Doing Business in Greater China (3)
  • IR/PLSI 325 Chinese Foreign Policy (4)
  • PLSI 404 Politics of China (4)

Group II—Humanities, Arts, and Literature

Select 3 units:

  • CHIN 401 Advanced Chinese (3)*
  • CHIN 410 Building Chinese Media Literacy (3)*
  • CHIN 411 Media Chinese (3)*
  • CHIN 501 Introduction to Classical Chinese (3)*
  • CHIN 502 Readings in Literary Chinese (3)*
  • CHIN 507 Traditional Chinese Culture (3)
  • CHIN 521 Chinese Modern Fiction (3)*
  • CHIN 525 Chinese Applied Linguistics (3)*
  • CHIN 530 Oratory and Performance (3)*
  • CHIN 537 Chinese Language and Modern China (3)*
  • CHIN 580 Topics in Chinese Language and Literature (All Topics) (3)*
  • CHIN 581 Topics in Modern Chinese Language and Literature (All Topics) (3)*
  • CHIN 582 Topics in Classical Chinese Language and Literature (All Topics) (3)*
  • CHIN 600 Topics in Chinese Language, Literature, and Culture in English (3)
  • CHIN 601 The Poetic Tradition (3)
  • CHIN 602 The Narrative Tradition in English (3)
  • CHIN 611 The Revolutionary Tradition in Modern Chinese Literature (3)
  • CHIN 612 Negotiating Chineseness in Late 20th and 21st Centuries (3)
  • HUM 375 Biography of a City (topic: Beijing) (3)
  • HUM 530 Chinese Civilization (3)
  • HUM 531 Images of Modern China (3)
  • KIN 148 Elementary Kung Fu (1)
  • KIN 175 Elementary Tai-Chi Chuan (1)
  • KIN 275 Intermediate/Advanced Tai-Chi Chuan (2)
  • PHIL 511 Chinese Philosophy and Religion (3)

 

Category B: Japan/Korea Studies

Select 3-4 units:

  • ANTH/IR 51 The Two Korea(3)
  • ART 502 Japanese Art (3)
  • HIST 365 History of Japan (3)
  • IBUS 596 Doing Business in Japan (3)
  • IR/PLSI 329 U.S.-Japan Politics    (4)
  • JAPN 200 Art of Japanese Writing and Calligraphy (3)
  • JAPN 302 Japanese Reading and Grammar (3)
  • JAPN 309 Advanced Readings in Japanese (3)
  • JAPN 390 Business Japanese (3)
  • JAPN 395 Business Writing (3)
  • JAPN 401 Topics in Japanese Culture (All Topics) (3)
  • JAPN 510 Modern Japanese Literature (3)
  • JAPN 590 Topics in Japanese Literature (3)
  • HUM 375 Biography of a City (Topics: Tokyo and Kyoto (3)
  • HUM 526 Culture of Japan before 1850 (3)
  • HUM 527 Japan and Modernity (3)
  • KIN 142 Elementary Judo (1)
  • KIN 145 Elementary Karate (1)
  • KIN 242 Intermediate/Advanced Judo (1)
  • TH A 408 Asian Plays and Performance Styles: Japan (3)

 

Category C: SE Asia/Regional/Comparative Studies

Select 3-4 units:

  • ANTH 315 Regional Ethnography (topic course: Peoples and Cultures of East Asia) (3)
  • ANTH 415 Culture and Sex in East Asia (3)
  • ANTH 481 Archaeology of the Far East (3)
  • ART/HUM 205 Asian Art History (3)
  • ART 502 Contemporary Asian Art (3)
  • HIST 364 Sex and Gender in East Asia (3)
  • HIST 376 History of Southeast Asia (3)
  • IBUS 594 Doing Business in Asia-Pacific Countries (3)
  • I R 326 South and Southeast Asia Foreign Relations (4)
  • MUS 531 Musics of North and Southeast Asia (3)
  • PHIL 509 The Buddhist Tradition (3)
  • PLSI 411 East Asian Politics (4)
  • PLSI 418 Political Transitions in East & Southeast Asia (4)
  • PLSI 419 Comparative Political Economy (4)

 

Visit the current University Bulletin for complete course descriptions and class schedule.

Electives (9 units)

Use the course lists provided above to select three or more courses (totalling more than 9 units) from at least two of the four core areas:

  • CATEGORY A, GROUP I: China / Taiwan / Hong Kong--History, Social Sciences, Health & Business
  • CATEGORY A, GROUP II: China / Taiwan / Hong Kong--Humanities, Arts, & Literature
  • CATEGORY B: Japan / Korea Studies
  • CATEGORY C: Southeast Asia / Regional / Comparative Studies

Students with no prior knowledge of a language other than English are required to take one semester of a language course, on advisement, that is relevant to their course of study and post-graduate goals. Students who wish to be exempted from this requirement must submit a written request to the director of Pacific Asian Studies.